Backcountry Tournament Raises Money for Bonefish & Tarpon Trust

A Veterans Day fishing tournament inspired by the late President
George Bush raised money for the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust.

The 7th annual All-American Backcountry Fishing Tournament
organized by Cheeca Lodge & Spa brought some of the sport’s top anglers to Islamorada,
Florida. The three-day tournament also recognized two war heroes who competed
as a team.

The tournament’s field of 14 anglers on 10 boats posted
overall game fish totals of 56 snook, 47 redfish, 10 tarpon, eight bonefish and
three permit. The total of 124 releases during the two-day tournament included
16 on fly, 44 on artificial tackle and 64 on general tackle.

Taking home top honors of Grand Champion Angler and Fly
Division Champion Angler was Fred Schwaibold of Charleston, South Carolina,
guided by Dave Denkert of Islamorada, Fla. Schwaibold released one permit and
four bonefish on bait, and eight snook, five redfish, one bonefish and one
tarpon on fly. He earned bonus points for catching all five species and
released a total of 15 fish on fly.

Grand Champion Team Awards went to Paul McCulliss of
Littleton, Colorado, and his son Brian McCulliss of Denver, title sponsors
representing McCulliss Oil & Gas. Guided by Eric Herstedt of Homestead, Florida,
the duo released 16 snook, 19 redfish, and one bonefish.

Second-place Team Division Award went to Dennis and Jeffery
Bernardo of Cumberland, Rhode Island, for releasing 13 snook, seven redfish and
four tarpon, guided by Mike Alfano of Islamorada, Florida.

Best photo awards went to the U.S. Marine Corp. veteran team of Sgt. Tommy Pearce of Miami and Private 1st Class Raul Lucas, of Dania Beach, Florida.

Anthony Bongiovanni of Newington, Conn., clinched Champion
Angler in the Artificial Division, releasing nine snook and five redfish.
Bongiovanni fished with his father Alan representing the Bongiovanni Group, a title
sponsor of the tournament.

Best Photo Awards went to the U.S. Marine Corp. veteran team
of Sgt. Tommy Pearce of Miami and Private 1st Class Raul Lucas, of Dania Beach,
Florida, guided by Mike Makowski of Key Largo, Florida. They released nine
snook and one redfish. The snook was a first for Lucas.

“It was an incredible experience to fish a tournament of
this caliber in the sport fishing capital of the world and actually take home
an award,” Pearce said. “It was also great to get acquainted with Jeb Bush,
Jr., since I served under the George W. Bush Administration.”